The Role of Football in the Politics of Contemporary States: A Literature-Based Analysis

Abstract

The article examines football from the perspective of a phenomenon that goes beyond mere sporting competition. As one of the most popular sports disciplines in the world, football has become a space in which the interests of states, football organizations, players, and supporters intersect and often clash. It is used not only to build state image and promote political ideas, but also to strengthen national identity, legitimize political authority, and divert public attention from controversial reforms and internal challenges. Football plays a particularly significant role as an instrument of soft power, enabling states to shape a positive international image without resorting to coercive measures. It may also function as a means of social communication, reinforcing national bonds and mobilizing citizens, especially in regions striving for independence. The analysis does not adopt rigid temporal boundaries. The selected examples aim to capture the evolution of the phenomenon across diverse socio-political and cultural contexts. The study is structured into three parts: the involvement of organizations, players, and supporters in political life; football as an element of state power; and football as an opportunity for achieving international recognition. The aim of the article is to integrate dispersed strands within the existing literature and to identify the mechanisms linking football and politics. The study fills a research gap by demonstrating how three levels of analysis – organizational, societal, and state-level – interact, whereas they have previously been examined separately.